Fantasy Hockey Waiver Watch: Quarter Mark

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 04:38:49 +0000

The first quarter of the season is now over and by now you should have a pretty good idea if you will be competing for a championship in your fantasy league this year or not. Regardless if you are or not, it is always a good idea to keep an eye on the waiver wire for potential valuable players who may be available. If you are in contention, these players may be the difference maker giving you injury relief or increased depth. If you are not a contender, they give you some trade value to help improve your teams future in keeper leagues.

Nikolai Kulemin – Toronto Maple Leafs, Left Wing 28.4% Fantrax Owned

Kulemin missed the first 12 games of the season with an ankle injury. He had two points in his first two games but has only scored one in his next seven. Kulemin does provide a healthy amount of hits however with 23 giving him added value in some leagues and he is a former 30 goal scorer. Kulemin is worth a free pickup at this point.

Carl Soderberg – Boston Bruins, Left Wing 25% Owned

Soderberg is in his first full NHL season, but the 28 year old has been playing pro hockey in Europe for years. His season debut was delayed due to injury and he has been slow to produce offense out of the gate with eight points in his first 15 games. However he has been playing better lately and had a multi-point game NOV 18 against Carolina. He is playing on the Bruins third line with Reilly Smith and Chris Kelly averaging over 13 minutes a game. His modest cap hit makes Soderberg a low risk fantasy option with decent offensive upside. Perhaps his game winning goal and assist against Carolina is a hint of what to come.

Peter Holland – Toronto Maple Leafs, Centre 24.6% Owned

Recently acquired from the Anaheim Ducks for Jesse Blacker, Holland provides the Leafs with some depth down the middle and relief for injured centers Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak. Holland was a first round pick by the Ducks (15^th overall in 2009). In 21 NHL games last season Holland produced five points and didn’t look out of place. More impressively, he scored 39 points in 45 AHL games. This is also a contract year for Holland so expect him to use this opportunity to place a bid for a one way NHL contract next year. He is a keeper.

Luke Adam – Buffalo Sabres, Centre 12.3% Owned

Adam had fallen out of favor under the old regime in Buffalo. But with a clean slate, Adam will be given the opportunity to work his way back into a top six role. He has an impressive 18 points in his first 15 games this season in the AHL and the size at6’2”, 206 LBS that new Coach Ted Nolan loves. Adam was recalled to Buffalo on Nov 20^th and will play on the second line with Steve Ott and Zemgus Girgensons.

Brian Gibbons – Pittsburgh Penguins, Centre 7.4% Owned

Gibbons is an undrafted College find of the Penguins who signed him after he had two 50 point seasons in Hockey East with Boston College. After two average 30 point seasons in the AHL, Gibbons has exploded with 22 points in 15 games this season, and made his NHL debut. All he did in his first game was score a goal and an assist, not bad. He is small at 5’8” 160 LBS but is very skilled and great hockey sense. He is certainly running hot right now and is well worth a gamble, ride out this hot streak and hope it lasts the whole season.

Rochester – The Real Americans

Gus Katsaros — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:12:09 +0000

A strange scheduling quirk had the Rochester Americans lining up against North Division rivals, the Toronto Marlies in four-of-seven games starting with a home-and-home set on November 30 inRochester– a 4-1 loss.

The return engagement at Ricoh Coliseum – a 3-2 loss – kick off the month of December and became the bookend between a game versus Adirondack (3-1 win) with another loss to the Marlies seven days later, a 4-3 nail-biter after they were down 4-0 to cut the deficit to 4-3 with just over a minute left, eventually running out of time to complete the comeback.

Having taken in both dates at Ricoh Coliseum, here are some notes on the Rochester Americans standouts.

Marcus Foligno, LW

Sabres 4th round pick in 2009 (104 overall) continues to put up good offensive numbers, mostly from a playmaking standpoint, scoring six goals – with only one goal in the last 16 games played – and just under a point-per-game pace, good enough to rank among top-30 in AHL points production .. slushy start up seems improved from previous season, with improved edges that has improved his first-step burst .. skating still remains an issue to improve on, start up aside .. could generate more power from stride, but keeps up with the play adequately .. displayed the tough, physical game that makes him a handful in open ice and even more so when battling along the wall .. more inclined to lead the rush than as a support option, an offshoot from him carrying the puck more than last season – especially with his head up .. difficult to knock off the puck, even more so in motion .. positioning and hockey sense was on display, getting to dirty areas in the offensive zone without the puck and focused defensively, backchecking and as a presence in the defensive zone .. development continues in a good uniform fashion.

Luke Adam C

Struggles continue for the 2008 2nd round pick (44th overall) scoring his first goal in the Dec 8, 4-3 loss, his first in 11 games that included a three game absence .. content in advancing the play from the perimeter, finding outlets and keeping the play going through the middle, but doesn’t drive into scoring areas .. competitive drive has been spotty in all live viewings so far this season .. doesn’t engage enough .. didn't recognize his defensive assignment with a lackadaisical back check that almost ended up as a scoring chance had the Marlies forward not bobbled it – a prime example of the intent to be better defensively, without actually putting up an effort to do so .. had he been in position to intercept the pass, the ensuing pressure in the zone that ended up as a penalty wouldn't have occurred on that same play .. passes aren't crisp and consistently miss their targets .. can be guilty of looking for the long bomb passes too often .. creativity and imagination are also not optimized, a side effect of not handling the puck very much .. has be more engaged, and up the compete level.

Brayden McNabb D

Took 14 games for the former 3rd round pick (66 overall) in 2009 to score his first of the season, and then scored again, five games later .. has recorded a point in 12 of 21 games, never going more than three games without a point .. offensive puck rushing blueliner carries it from behind his net to take the opposition blueline, although is capable of slick outlet passing and zealous in jumping up to support the rush .. walks the blueline effectively and changes his angles for shots on goal .. can be pressured into mistakes in defensive coverage, hurried with the puck to make decisions, or bodied off the puck along the boards .. thinks the play a few steps ahead and executes on the thought pattern, very creative converting imagination into a reality .. initiates contact instinctively, using his six-foot-four frame whenever he can, boxing out opposition, or intimidating physical punishment .. can be guilty of overplaying the physical elements at times, taking himself out of the play .. also has to mind gaps widening as he skates backwards .. impressive puck control at the end of the blade and dexterity to use feet to steady puck before playing them .. may not live up to the offensive potential but it’s a complimentary feature for a well-rounded two way game .. defensive gaps are tight and he’s rarely out of position, with an emerging active stick .. good potential, not too far away either.

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Fantasy Hockey Waiver Watch: Quarter Mark

Rochester – The Real Americans